How to Disable & Re-enable the Windows Key on Windows 10

ByUmar Ali – August 22, 2020

Windows 10 allows users to disable the Windows key on Windows 10. Pressing the Windows key on your computer or laptop keyboard by accident can be very annoying. Sometimes, it kicks you out of a full-screen game by navigating the Start menu or unintentionally launches as a shortcut. Fortunately, there is a method to disable the key on your Windows 10 Computer. If you don’t know how to do then follow the given instructions.

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How to Disable & Re-enable the Windows Key on Windows 10

There are several ways to Disable & Re-enable the Windows key on Windows 10. In the first method, you can disable with the use of free PowerToys utility. The second method you can use the Registry Editor app. In the third method, you can use the Group Policy Editor for the Windows 10 pro version.

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How to Disable the Windows Key on Windows 10

The simplest and easiest method to disable the Windows key is via Microsoft’s free PowerToys utility. With PowerToys, you can reassign or disable any key to have the function of any other. Through this process, we will be changing or disabling the Windows key to be “Undefined,” which means nothing will happen when you hit it. Here are these steps to disable the Windows key on Windows 10 computer or laptop.

1. First of all download Microsoft PowerToys to disable the Windows key. If you do not already have download and installed.
2. Open the PowerToys on your Computer
3. Click on the “Keyboard Manager” in the sidebar, and then click on the “Remap A Key.”
4. Select the “+” plus sign option in the “Remap Keyboard” to add a mapping definition
5. Then select the key you want to change in the left column to change a key mapping, then define what you want it to do in the right column
6. Click on the drop-down menu below the “Key” heading on the left side,
7. Select the “Win” option in the “Mapped To” section on the Right
8. Click on the drop-down menu and select the “Undefined”
9. Then select the “OK” option and the Windows will warn you that you will not be able to use the Windows key due to it will be unassigned. Click on the “Continue Anyway” option
10. Finally, the Windows key should be disabled. Your settings have been saved, and you are free to close PowerToys and use your PC as usual.

Unlike other methods of remapping keys like using Sharpkeys and the Windows Registry. You will not have to reboot or log out for your change to take effect. The Windows key will be disabled immediately.

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How to Disable Windows Key on Windows 10 Via Registry Editor

Let’s show another way to disable Windows key on Windows 10 while using the Registry Editor app. However, if that is impossible and the moment. We will have to edit the Windows Registry file, which requires the standard disclaimer.

Disclaimer: It is a serious undertaking to editing the Windows Registry file. A corrupted Windows Registry file could render your PC inoperable, requiring a reinstallation of the Windows 10 OS and potential loss of data file. Back p the Windows 10 Registry file and make a valid restore point before you proceed.

1. Go the desktop search box and type to “regedit” to start
2. In the results select the Registry Editor app
3. When the Windows Registry file is open, then navigate to this key: HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionPoliciesExplorer
4. Select the Explorer key option
5. Right-click on an empty spot in the right-hand side window
6. Select the New|DWORD (32-bit) Value and name it NoWinKeys
7. Now Double-click on the NoWinKeys entry and change the Data Value to 1
8. Select the OK option and then close the Regedit app.

The change will become effective after you restart your computer. To turn Windows key functionally back on, change the Data Value to zero or remove the NoWinKeys entry

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How to Disable the Windows key using Group Policy Editor

In this method, you can use the Group Policy Editor in case you are using Windows 10 Pro. Here are these steps to follow:

1. Type the Group Policy Editor in the desktop search box
2. Click on the appropriate entry in the search results. Open to this folder: User ConfigurationAdministrative TemplatesWindows ComponentsFile Explorer
3. Now select the File Explorer entry option
4. Scroll down the list of configuration settings showed in the right-hand side of the window until you find the entry “Turn off Windows Key hotkeys.”
5. Press the Turn off Windows Key hotkeys entry and select the Enable radio button
6. Select the OK option and then close the Group Policy Editor
7. Now restart your computer to the change will become effective
8. To re-enable the Windows key functionality back on, change the selected radio button to Not Configured or Not Disabled.

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How to Re-enable the Windows Key

Let’s show how to re-enable the Windows key once you change your mind then follow the given below steps:

1. Open the PowerToys on your Computer
2. Then open the Keyboard Manager
3. Select the Remap a key
4. Find the “Wind->Undefined” mapping option
5. Select the nearby trash icon to delete it
6. Then click on the OK option to close the window
7. After that, your Windows key will start working as normally as previously.

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FacebookTwitterPinterestWhatsAppUmar Alihttps://www.dowpie.comUmar Ali is a passionate content writer. He feeds many blogs with his unique content. He loves creating contents tutorial content. And contribute many guest articles on different websites.